Records Fall for Regals at Pomona-Pitzer Invite

CLAREMONT, Calif. -- In its final tune-up before defending its Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Championship, the Cal Lutheran women’s track and field team took part in the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational Saturday. The national meet at Strehle Track drew participants across the world and from Division I, II, III and NAIA institutions.

Melissa Skiba was Cal Lutheran’s top finisher during the meet Saturday. The junior distance runner took fourth place in the 1500 meter run in a time of 4:30.37, shattering her school record time by more than two seconds.

Skiba wasn’t the only record-setter of the race as Ashley Freese ran a personal-best 4:36.52, which was good for fourth-best in school history.

During the sprint competitions, Amy Galipeau just missed a personal-best time in the 100 meters, clocking a time of 12.64 to lead the Regals. Lauren Kennedy was right behind, finishing with a time of 13.03 and Taryn Thordarson rounded out the Regals in the 100 meters, completing the race in a time of 13.41.

Kennedy also clocked the seventh fastest 100 meter hurdles time in CLU history when she crossed the finish line at 15.90. Teammate Scout Gibson just missed recording a CLU top ten time, finishing in a time of 16.6. Fellow Regal Rachel Maurer was next in line, finishing in a time of 16.90.

Lauren Rohach continued the strong sprinting showing for the Regals as she nearly eclipsed her personal-best time in the 200 meter race, crossing the finish line in a time of 25.67, good for fourth best in CLU history.

Freshman Amanda Hamilton furthered her strong debut season, recording a time of 1:07.18 in the 400 meter hurdle race which was also the sixth-fastest time in school history.

After Skiba and Freese both set records in the 1500 meter race, Chelsea Feller was nearly the next Regal distance record to etch her name into the school record books Saturday. The sophomore just missed getting into the top ten by one second when she recorded a time of 4:57.56 in the 1500 meter race.

During the relay events, the 4x 100 meter team of Kendall Sauter, Rohach, Galipeau and Hamilton were second off their school record time, finishing in sixth with a time of 48.69.

As the meet transitioned to the jumps portion, Hamilton took fourth place in the triple jump after tallying a jump of 11.28 meters, second best in school history. Mary Case continued the strong showing when she finished 12th in the long jump after recording a mark of 5.15 meters.

Once the throwers got underway, Brianna Panapa came in fifth in the hammer-throw after she had a mark of 46.49 meters during her first throw. During the shot-put, Panapa had her second throw of the day travel 10.86 meters, good for 11th place.

Freshman Allie Hadley rounded out the throwers by taking eighth place in the javelin after recording a mark of 37.87 meters which was also third best in school history.

Cal Lutheran now turns its attention to the SCIAC Championships which begin Friday, April 26 at Occidental College. The Regals will look to repeat as conference champions after earning their first SCIAC Championship in school history.

Results: Pomona-Pitzer Invitational Results
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